Jjimjilbang, or public bathhouse, is a very popular place for local Koreans.
It is gender-segregated and has hot tubs, showers, saunas, massage tables, the works!
The best thing about it is you can actually stay in their sleeping quarters overnight!
It is a cheap and enjoyable alternative for a hostel, if you're on a budget.
This is one of the things that would make you
feel ike you're a real Korean from the Joseon
era.
You can find many studios in Insa-dong
that offer this service for about US$18-20
but if you're lucky, you can find tourist inform-
ation booths that provide it for free
(sans the photo shoot).
If you want to immerse yourself in the culture, make sure you
get to eat in a pojangmacha or street stall on wheels, which is covered with plastic when the weather is cold.
They sell snacks on daytime and are mostly for drinking
in the nighttime so enjoy your sundae and ddeokbokki
with your soju!
Forget the samgyupsal, bibimbap
and kimchi chigae. You have to
try sannakji (산낙지), which is
basically a live baby octopus
that can be served either chopped
up or eaten whole and the unbiquitous
beondegi (번데기) or steamed
silkworm pupae!
You might want to pass up on
the bosintang (보신탕) or dog soup
though.
Hongdae is an area most known for its nightlife, often frequented by hip people in their 20's and 30's. Every last Friday of each month is "Club Day", a wristband-powered event, which allows entry to 14 clubs for the price of one! Every second Friday, there is also "Sound Day" which is the "indie music" version of Club Day.
There are 37 mountains within the Seoul so it's not unusual to see Koreans in their "hiking clothes" everywhere. Try climbing some of the popular and easily accessible mountains like Mt. Bukhansan or Mt. Yongmasan and end your trek with a cool bottle (or bottles) of makgeolli (막걸리) or rice wine just like local Koreans.
Even if you're on a tight budget, shopping in Seoul can be an overwhelming experience. You can find fashionable items in Namdaemun and Dongdaemun for as low was 5,000 won or only PhP200 - as cheap as in Bangkok and the quality is awesome! Here's a tip though: try the tiangges in the subway stations.You'll be surprised at what you can find.
StarCraft is so massive in Korea that they have even have live
tournaments with audience and fans, professional commentators and
are competitions that are broadcasted live on TV and online!
Even if you're not into gaming, you have to witness this exclusively
Korean phenomenon and see the StarCraft celebrities up-close.